Forsyth County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Forsyth County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
2022 Tasing of Elderly Resident
A resident says her 88-year-old father was tased on his own property in 2022, hospitalized, and the sheriff's office found no excessive force; she wants commissioners to review the video and personnel records.
Smith Reynolds Airport Master Plan Development
The county approved grants and engineering contracts to update the master plan and airport layout plan for Smith Reynolds Airport, supported by over half a million in NCDOT funding.
Dedicated emergency operations center
The current EOC shares space with the sheriff's office and takes time to activate during storms. A $1 million state request would fund a dedicated, instantly ready space.
Waste and Recycling Hauler Contract Renewals
Forsyth County is sticking with its current trash and recycling haulers by renewing their contracts for another term. If you live in the county, that means no shake-up in who picks up your garbage—at least for now. It's a continuity move, not a service redesign.
Queen Juneteenth Scholarship Accountability
Community advocates questioned Commissioner Woodbury and school officials regarding the transparency, funding, and formal agreements behind the Queen Juneteenth pageant scholarships.
Tanglewood Park Pickleball Courts Proposal
A community representative proposed developing up to 18 dedicated pickleball courts at Tanglewood Park to accommodate surging demand following the success of the Joni Mosier Park courts.
Forsyth Tech Learning Commons funding
Leftover 2016 bond money from finished Forsyth Tech projects was consolidated into the long-delayed Learning Commons building so construction can move forward.
Discharging Firearms Code Revision Request
A Pfafftown resident asked the county to tighten firearm discharge restrictions by increasing buffer distances from dwellings and removing written permission exceptions following a property damage incident.
Drone-delivered AED research program
The county's Duke University partnership testing drone delivery of defibrillators to cardiac 911 calls got a revised agreement — expanded to a fourth drone base but with the budget trimmed by $44,739.
Non-emergency medical transportation with WSTA
An interlocal agreement with the Winston-Salem Transit Authority will give Social Services clients rides to non-emergency medical appointments.
Sturmer Park Circle Real Property Sale Extension
The county considered extending the purchase and sale agreement deadline for a 3.5-acre county-owned property at 5580 Sturmer Park Circle to allow the buyer more time to finalize NCDOT permits for a high-end gas station.
State Legislative Goals and Recreational Trail Funding
The board added an amendment to its state legislative agenda urging the General Assembly to restore dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian trails through the strategic transportation investment fund.
Water Main Break
A major water main burst 40 feet underground, cutting water service to about half of Forsyth County. If your taps are sputtering or dry, this is why. Crews will need to dig deep and repair it before service returns.
Social Services Meal and Day Care Program Contracts
The Department of Social Services requested renewals for contracts with Senior Services, Inc. to provide home-delivered meals, frozen meals, congregate lunches, adult day care, and adult day health services for vulnerable seniors and adult protective services clients.
Friends of the Library Operating Agreements
County staff introduced new standardized operating agreements and surplus procedures for the nine Friends of the Library groups to ensure compliance with state property and finance laws.
NCDOT Division 9 Transportation Projects
The county is considering a resolution asking the North Carolina Department of Transportation to process petitions for adding local subdivision roads to the state maintenance system.
Courthouse Technology Improvements
Judges requested around $900,000 for courtroom audiovisual and technology upgrades, sparking debate over state versus local responsibilities.
County Performance Measures and Data Dashboards
County staff showcased new internal dashboards that track department performance, budget spending, and service delivery metrics across county agencies.
Neighborhood Concerns Over Needle Exchange and Harm Reduction Services
West Salem residents and a medical professional raised serious concerns about the volume of participants and drug paraphernalia distributed by the Twin City Harm Reduction Collective operating out of a local church. Speakers asked the commission to investigate harm reduction practices and help neighborhood residents dealing with public disorder and safety issues.
Minimum Housing Code Demolition on Mountain Brook Trail
County staff brought forward a code enforcement case for an abandoned, severely damaged home on Mountain Brook Trail, seeking authorization to demolish the structure due to uncorrected safety and sanitation hazards.
County Boundary Survey with Davidson County
Staff proposed partnering with the NC Geodetic Survey to accurately map the boundary line between Forsyth and Davidson counties to resolve longstanding discrepancies and ensure correct emergency services response and taxation.
Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Contracting Discussion
The county attorney and commissioners discussed legal parameters, practical challenges, and potential administrative costs associated with expanding MWBE outreach beyond construction projects.
Unified Development Ordinance Forward 2045 Plan Alignment
The county is updating its development ordinances to replace references to older planning documents like 'Legacy' with the new Forward 2045 plan, keeping local regulations aligned with current growth goals.
View Corridor Protections and Billboard Restrictions
Forsyth County is considering expanding view corridors along major highways like US 421 and Route 158 to preserve scenic rural views and prohibit new billboards.
Partisan Municipal Elections Legislation
State lawmakers just made most Forsyth County city and town races partisan, so ballots will now show party labels. That means candidates will run as Democrats or Republicans, and local elections could get more nationalized—and more expensive.